Steven Choi

Steven Choi (15 January 1944-) was a member of the California State Assembly (R-68) from 5 December 2016, succeeding Don Wagner. He also served as Mayor of Irvine from 11 December 2012 to 5 December 2016, succeeding Sukhee Kang and preceding Don Wagner.

Biography
Steven Choi was born in Naju, Japanese Korea (now in South Korea) on 15 January 1944, and he graduated from Kyung Hee University in Seoul. In August 1968, he came to the United States while working for the Peace Corps, and he proceeded to attend Louisiana State University and the University of Pittsburgh before becoming a professor. In 1998, he was elected to the school board of Irvine, California, and he was elected to the city council in 2004, becoming the first Asian-American elected to a four-year term on the council. From 2012 to 2016, he served as Mayor, and he was a member of the conservative council majority. He succeeded in opposing the one-China principle, continuing his city's sister city status with the Taiwanese city of Taoyuan. In 2016, he was elected to the State Assembly, representing the 68th district.